FSF Blogs: GNU/Linux chosen as operating system of the International Space Station

Public

May 22, 2013

This is a wise choice for the space station, and a high-profile victory for software freedom. It brings good publicity for free software, demonstrating its respected position in the world of science and technology.

Along with increased reliability, NASA said they chose GNU/Linux because they could modify it to fit their needs. This is one of the core ideas behind free software, and we're glad the space agency values it.

Unfortunately, both NASA and the media writing about the decision have been calling the operating system "Linux" instead of "GNU/Linux." The kernel Linux is an important part of the operating system known as GNU/Linux, but the vision of the system and the framework on which the system is made were developed by the GNU Project, a community of developers that care deeply about free software ideas. Because of this, it is inaccurate to refer to the OS as "Linux," and doing so covers up the fact that this space-worthy operating system is the result of a decades-long commitment to ethical values.

That's why we ask that, when you talk or write about the operating system (in space or otherwise), you help us by referring to it as "GNU/Linux," and encourage your friends to do the same. There are gnus up there in space, along with the penguins.

Ironically, even though NASA calls the operating system by a misleading name, the distribution they chose, Debian, gets this right -- its official name is Debian GNU/Linux.